My grandfather was a coal miner and he had probably a dozen of the old carbide miners lamps. I have 2 or 3 still. His were mostly manufactured by Autolight. I think some were Edison. I used to love them for fishing trips. The reason was you could fill them with carbide / water and they would run all night. (we would get up several times during the night and check our bank lines.) We never turned them off. Just sit them on the picnic table, and left them burning. We had light when we go up, no fumbling around.
Another real plus, was with the open flame, they were constantly drawing insects, just like an electric light, but all the bugs were killed instantly by the flame. Yes, Acetylene gas is dangerous. (if confined) In the manner that these lamps were constructed, they are not dangerous. The biggest drawback to them is that the smelll of them operating is unpleasant.
All of the American manufacture of them ceased probably 50 or more years ago. May years after they were out of production, I found one for sale in a hardware store that was brass, like the American ones, but was made in Czechoslovakia. I bought it and it proved to be a good one. Equal to the earlier ones that I had but just not as nicely finished.
The good news was that rock carbide was very cheap. And would last a long time in an airtight container. If the air got in it would turn to "slack" (the miner term), which was a fine and utterly useless powder. The bad news is that it is no longer readily available. The last time i looked, it was not to be had, except from chemical supply houses at an exorbitant price. My beloved carbide lights are now just conversation pieces.
If you got one and can find the carbide here is a tip on lighting it. (all the ones I ever had came with a striker built into the reflector.) Put in the carbide, put in the water. Set it to drip at one of the lower numbers, like 2 for a starter. wait until you can hear and smell it producing gas. Now here is the trick. cup your hand over the reflector, with the bottom part of the palm resting on the striker wheel. wait a couple of seconds, then rapidly pull your hand down off of the reflector, spinning the striker wheel with it as you do so. This will throw a spark into the reflector which is filled with gas. It will light every time with a sharp "pop." Always impresses the fishing buddies.
) enlighten me?
